Phone Calls: Phone Calls

After being humiliated by her best friend Diane in front of a cute boy, Julie decides to get even and plays a telephone prank, launching an all-out telephone war that results in mismatched romances and worse. Reissue.

From Publishers Weekly

Stine's latest work is an all-dialogue piece centered around a succession of telephone calls among a group of high school students. The story begins when Diane encourages her best friend Julie to pursue basketball star Mick Wilson. The reluctant Julie acquiesces, but ultimately winds up feeling humiliated, and blames Diane for what she believes was a cruel prank. To retaliate, Julie lures Toby, Diane's stepbrother, into a plan guaranteed to embarrass Diane. When it succeeds, an enraged Diane plots revenge. Based on an innocent misunderstanding, this good-natured fun provides perfect entertainment for its intended audience. The narrative features slick, contemporary dialogue and a rapid-fire tempo--ingredients sure to entice even the most reluctant reader. Stine's popularity with young people is well deserved. Ages 11-14. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

A delightfully funny comedy of errors, based on a series of phone calls among a small group of teenagers. Diane calls her best friend, Julie, to tell her that Mick likes her and that she should try to attract his attention. Miscommunication is the plot device, so Julie ends up telephoning the wrong Mick--superjock Mick Wilson, who isn't interested in her at all. Each chapter begins as one of the characters telephones another. Occasionally it will be difficult for readers to distinguish one character's dialogue from another. However, the story is well constructed, and readers will enjoy the excellent character development (even the parents are funny). All's well that ends well . . . Julie gets Toby, and teens get an excellent read. --Alice Cronin, Mountainside Public Library, NJCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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